Valter Sirk – Pinot Blanc, 2018

Let’s return to the always effervescent Valter Sirk, the winemaker from Brda that crafts three lines of wines. Tonight we’ll look at his Pinot Blanc, a variety he’s very fond and proud of.

Valter Sirk has his cellar in Višnjevik. A village that lies at an altitude of 320 meters above sea level and is surrounded by vineyards. One of the oldest mentions of the village date back to the 13th century as these were the times the knights of Rittersberg lived in the identically named castle.

Valter dedicates quite the attention to this wine, as it is produced by a nine-month maturation in oak barrels before bottling. He kept this bottle safely stored in the cellar until recently, and finally, I’ve been able to taste it.

Strawy yellow with a golden border and fair density.

Aromas are intense and show a refined touch between the pronounced fruit and blossom character of the variety and the delicate impact of oak. We identify scents of nectarine, melon, mango and bergamot. Lemon blossom intertwines with lemongrass. We also detect hints of butter, almond and a gentle touch of vanilla.

The taste is expressively soft, but at the same time, offering a refreshing and mineral signature. A balanced wine, offering elegance, structure and persistency with flavours of fruit, almonds and citruses in its aftertaste.

It is a wine at its peak, but it has the stamina for a further couple of years. A bottle should cost approximately 10 Eur, and you can get it at Mabat-Int, Deliz, Klub gurmanov Skaručna and Italvinus.